antecedent

1 of 2

noun

an·te·ced·ent ˌan-tə-ˈsē-dᵊnt How to pronounce antecedent (audio)

plural antecedents

grammar : a substantive word, phrase, or clause whose denotation is referred to by a pronoun that typically follows the substantive (such as John in "Mary saw John and called to him")

broadly : a word or phrase replaced by a substitute

: a preceding event, condition, or cause

events that were antecedents of the war

antecedents plural : the significant events, conditions, and traits of one's earlier life

: predecessor

especially : a model or stimulus for later developments

The sackbut was the antecedent of the trombone.

antecedents plural : ancestors, parents

He was proud of his Scottish antecedents.

: the conditional element in a proposition (such as if A in "if A, then B")

mathematics : the first term of a mathematical ratio

antecedent

2 of 2

adjective

: prior

antecedent events

antecedently adverb

Did you know?

A basic principle of clear writing is to keep your antecedents clear. Pronouns are often used in order not to repeat a noun (so instead of saying "Sheila turns 22 tomorrow, and Sheila is having a party", we replace the second "Sheila" with "she"). But sloppy writers sometimes leave their antecedents unclear (for instance, "Sheila helps Kathleen out, but she doesn't appreciate it", where it isn't clear who "she" is). Watch out for this possible problem when using not just he and she but also they, them, it, this, *and *that. And keep in mind that antecedent isn't just a grammar term. You may talk about the antecedents of heart disease (such as bad eating habits), the antecedents of World War II (such as the unwise Treaty of Versailles), and even your own antecedents (your mother, grandfather, etc.).

Example Sentences

Noun “John” is the antecedent of the pronoun “him” in “Mary saw John and thanked him.” what are the antecedents of the American Revolutionary War? Adjective I'd like to follow up on an antecedent question from another reporter.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Joke’s on me — there is no reference point, no explicit antecedent.

Murray Whyte, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2022 Now, with the good wishes of all estates, Mr. Rankin has completed the work of his esteemed antecedent.

Tom Nolan, WSJ, 29 July 2022 The look maintains its antecedent’s simple shapes but replaces the restrained palette of neutrals and natural wood with pastels.

Dale Hrabi And Nina Molina, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 Stadler was a master of the clarinet and basset horn — an early antecedent of the modern clarinet — and was a co-inventor of the basset clarinet, the instrument for which Mozart originally wrote his concerto.

Lukas Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2022 Such a censure would be an extraordinary measure against a religious leader, its closest antecedent perhaps being the sanctions the United States leveled against Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

New York Times, 21 May 2022 The sequel is a more explicit künstlerroman than its antecedent.

Jennifer Wilson, The Atlantic, 19 Apr. 2022 But these campaign videos actually have a different, more prosaically political antecedent: Tucker Carlson’s monologues.

New York Times, 22 Mar. 2022 Wide swaths of Scott’s plan—including bolstering police funding, waging war on career politicians, demanding that parents receive a greater say in school curriculum—find their antecedent in Newt Gingrich’s original.

Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 26 Feb. 2022 See More

antecedent 1 of 2

adjective

as in previous

going before another in time or order I'd like to follow up on an antecedent question from another reporter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

previous
preceding
precedent
earliest
prior
initial
early
anterior
former
foregoing
original
preexisting
advance
premature
preliminary
first
pioneer
introductory
inaugural
erstwhile
maiden
whilom

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

subsequent
following
posterior
ensuing
later
succeeding
after
latter
late
advanced
final
last
ultimate
concluding
terminal
latest
closing

antecedent

2 of 2

noun

as in cause

someone or something responsible for a result what are the antecedents of the American Revolutionary War?

Synonyms & Similar Words

cause
determinant
causation
causality
source
reason
consideration
occasion
origin
factor
impetus
stimulus
instigation
incentive
root
mother
inspiration
spring
be-all and end-all
alpha and omega

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

consequence
effect
result
outcome
development
corollary
sequence
outgrowth
resultant
aftereffect
upshot
issue
fate
fruit
product
aftermath
ramification
sequel
repercussion
conclusion
denouement
end
dénouement
side effect
by-product
side reaction

as in precursor

something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed the typewriter is the antecedent of the computer keyboard

Synonyms & Similar Words

precursor
forerunner
ancestor
predecessor
original
archetype
prototype
originator
granddaddy
grandaddy
model
daddy
foregoer
mother
sire
father

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

descendant
descendent
outgrowth
derivative
offshoot
son
daughter
by-product
spin-off

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of antecedent are anterior, foregoing, former, preceding, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

While the synonyms anterior and antecedent are close in meaning, anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.

the anterior lobe of the brain

The words foregoing and antecedent can be used in similar contexts, but foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

The words former and antecedent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

The synonyms preceding and antecedent are sometimes interchangeable, but preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

Both previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

a child from a previous marriage

a prior obligation

单词	antecedent
释义	antecedent 1 of 2 noun an·te·ced·ent ˌan-tə-ˈsē-dᵊnt plural antecedents 1 grammar : a substantive word, phrase, or clause whose denotation is referred to by a pronoun that typically follows the substantive (such as John in "Mary saw John and called to him") broadly : a word or phrase replaced by a substitute 2 a : a preceding event, condition, or cause events that were antecedents of the war b antecedents plural : the significant events, conditions, and traits of one's earlier life 3 a : predecessor especially : a model or stimulus for later developments The sackbut was the antecedent of the trombone. b antecedents plural : ancestors, parents He was proud of his Scottish antecedents. 4 : the conditional element in a proposition (such as if A in "if A, then B") 5 mathematics : the first term of a mathematical ratio antecedent 2 of 2 adjective : prior antecedent events antecedently adverb Did you know? A basic principle of clear writing is to keep your antecedents clear. Pronouns are often used in order not to repeat a noun (so instead of saying "Sheila turns 22 tomorrow, and Sheila is having a party", we replace the second "Sheila" with "she"). But sloppy writers sometimes leave their antecedents unclear (for instance, "Sheila helps Kathleen out, but she doesn't appreciate it", where it isn't clear who "she" is). Watch out for this possible problem when using not just he and she but also they, them, it, this, and that. And keep in mind that antecedent isn't just a grammar term. You may talk about the antecedents of heart disease (such as bad eating habits), the antecedents of World War II (such as the unwise Treaty of Versailles), and even your own antecedents (your mother, grandfather, etc.). Synonyms Noun causality causation cause occasion reason Adjective anterior foregoing former precedent preceding previous prior See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Noun “John” is the antecedent of the pronoun “him” in “Mary saw John and thanked him.” what are the antecedents of the American Revolutionary War? Adjective I'd like to follow up on an antecedent question from another reporter. Recent Examples on the Web Noun Joke’s on me — there is no reference point, no explicit antecedent. Murray Whyte, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2022 Now, with the good wishes of all estates, Mr. Rankin has completed the work of his esteemed antecedent. Tom Nolan, WSJ, 29 July 2022 The look maintains its antecedent’s simple shapes but replaces the restrained palette of neutrals and natural wood with pastels. Dale Hrabi And Nina Molina, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 Stadler was a master of the clarinet and basset horn — an early antecedent of the modern clarinet — and was a co-inventor of the basset clarinet, the instrument for which Mozart originally wrote his concerto. Lukas Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2022 Such a censure would be an extraordinary measure against a religious leader, its closest antecedent perhaps being the sanctions the United States leveled against Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. New York Times, 21 May 2022 The sequel is a more explicit künstlerroman than its antecedent. Jennifer Wilson, The Atlantic, 19 Apr. 2022 But these campaign videos actually have a different, more prosaically political antecedent: Tucker Carlson’s monologues. New York Times, 22 Mar. 2022 Wide swaths of Scott’s plan—including bolstering police funding, waging war on career politicians, demanding that parents receive a greater say in school curriculum—find their antecedent in Newt Gingrich’s original. Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 26 Feb. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Noun and Adjective Middle English, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin antecedent-, antecedens, from Latin, what precedes, from neuter of antecedent-, antecedens, present participle of antecedere to go before, from ante- + cedere to go First Known Use Noun 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Adjective 15th century, in the meaning defined above Legal Definition antecedent adjective an·te·ce·dent ˌan-tə-ˈsēd-ᵊnt : earlier in time or order antecedent 1 of 2 adjective as in previous going before another in time or order I'd like to follow up on an antecedent question from another reporter Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance previous preceding precedent earliest prior initial early anterior former foregoing original preexisting advance premature preliminary first pioneer introductory inaugural erstwhile maiden whilom Antonyms & Near Antonyms subsequent following posterior ensuing later succeeding after latter late advanced final last ultimate concluding terminal latest closing See More antecedent 2 of 2 noun 1 as in cause someone or something responsible for a result what are the antecedents of the American Revolutionary War? Synonyms & Similar Words cause determinant causation causality source reason consideration occasion origin factor impetus stimulus instigation incentive root mother inspiration spring be-all and end-all alpha and omega Antonyms & Near Antonyms consequence effect result outcome development corollary sequence outgrowth resultant aftereffect upshot issue fate fruit product aftermath ramification sequel repercussion conclusion denouement end dénouement side effect by-product side reaction See More 2 as in precursor something belonging to an earlier time from which something else was later developed the typewriter is the antecedent of the computer keyboard Synonyms & Similar Words precursor forerunner ancestor predecessor original archetype prototype originator granddaddy grandaddy model daddy foregoer mother sire father Antonyms & Near Antonyms descendant descendent outgrowth derivative offshoot son daughter by-product spin-off See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of antecedent are anterior, foregoing, former, preceding, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation. conditions antecedent to the revolution While the synonyms anterior and antecedent are close in meaning, anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order. the anterior lobe of the brain The words foregoing and antecedent can be used in similar contexts, but foregoing applies chiefly to statements. the foregoing remarks The words former and antecedent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter. the former name of the company The synonyms preceding and antecedent are sometimes interchangeable, but preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place. the preceding sentence Both previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance. a child from a previous marriage a prior obligation
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antecedent

noun

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Legal Definition

adjective

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser